since taking immpdium slows down the bowels and the digestive process does that mean calories and stuff are burned slower? and does that mean we can gain weight from taking immodium?
Posts: 226 | Location: phila | Registered: November 11, 2004
To answer your first question: taking immodium has no effect on your metabolism(the rate at which we burn calories).
As to your second question, I don't know. I've wondered this myself too. I take 6 lomotil a day and since takedown I've put on about 20-25 pounds but I know that this is due to my wacky thyroid (The thyroid controls your metabolism) and I also know that a lot of it is muscle because I've been working out regularily and I can actually see the muscles. If immodium does allow your body to absorb more energy from your food, I don't think it would be a lot - meaning you're not going to blimp up at all. If the immodium gives you relief from your symptoms, I wouldn't worry about a possible 1 or 2 pound weight gain if there is any weight gain at all.
As far as I can understand, Imodium doesn't affect food absorbtion, only in what shape and form we get rid of the waste. I try to eat healthily, but since fruit and veg gives me very loose BMs, I depend on "bowel stiffeners" to keep me on my feet rather than chained to the loo all day. I found psyllium has been my salvation - not imodium. But that's just me.
"Today I'm 51 % sweetheart and 49 % dragon*. So don't push it. (*Percentages subject to change without notice.)"
Posts: 1286 | Location: Norway | Registered: February 08, 2007
Theoretically, you can gain weight through use of Imodium, but not because you burn calories slower. It would be because of improved digestion. If you were not fully digesting your nutrients and/or were dehydrated due to diarrhea, you could gain needed water weight and tissue weight through improved nutrition. This would be because the nutrients would have longer contact with the small bowel mucosa, increasing the absorption rate. Basically, more calories would "count" instead of being wasted. Someone who was having trouble maintaining or gaining needed weight, would possibly be able to. Also, someone who never had to worry about it, would have to pay attention to what he was eating.
But, Imodium has no effect on your metabolism, once those calories enter your bloodstream.
Jan
Take a deep breath and relax; this too will pass.
Posts: 15114 | Location: Fremont, CA, USA | Registered: April 07, 2000
